Pronunciation: [sˈa͡ʊ͡ədə͡ʊ] (IPA) 
The word "sourdough" is spelled /ˈsɑːdəʊ/. The "sou" in "sourdough" is pronounced like "sow," the female pig. The "r" in "sourdough" is silent, which can be confusing for non-native English speakers. The "dough" part is pronounced like "d-oh," as in "simpsons" catchphrase. Sourdough refers to a type of bread made using a natural yeast starter. So, next time you order sourdough bread, you'll know how to spell it correctly!
Sourdough refers to a type of bread, as well as the starter used to make it. As a bread, sourdough is characterized by its tangy, slightly acidic taste and unique texture, resulting from the fermentation of dough using naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria. It is typically made using a sourdough starter, a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and lactobacilli from the environment.
The process of making sourdough involves combining the starter with additional flour, water, and sometimes salt, and allowing the mixture to ferment and rise for an extended period. This slow fermentation process, which can take several hours or even days, gives sourdough its distinct flavor and chewy texture. The fermentation also breaks down gluten, making sourdough more digestible for individuals with gluten sensitivity.
In addition to its distinct flavor and texture, sourdough is often praised for its potential health benefits. The fermentation process in sourdough not only enhances its nutritional profile by increasing the availability of vitamins and minerals but also helps in breaking down complex carbohydrates and proteins, making them easier to absorb and digest.
The term "sourdough" can also refer to the starter itself, which is an ongoing mixture of flour and water that is consistently fed to maintain the balance of yeast and bacteria. The sourdough starter can be kept alive and active for many years, as long as it is regularly fed and maintained.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The etymology of the word "sourdough" can be traced back to the 19th century during the California Gold Rush. It originated from two words:
1. "Sour" refers to the characteristic tangy flavor created by the fermentation process of the dough.
2. "Dough" refers to the mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients used to make bread.
During the Gold Rush, miners would often carry a particular type of bread starter known as "sourdough" while prospecting for gold. This starter was a fermented mixture of flour and water that served as a leavening agent for making bread. Due to the distinctive taste and the prevalence of this type of bread in the gold mining camps, the term "sourdough" became associated with both the bread itself and the miners who used it.
